December 1, 2023 |
TEN CRAVES IS OUR ONLINE SERIES THAT ROUNDS UP ALL THE BEST PRODUCT LAUNCHES AND MUST-KNOW FASHION HAPPENINGS WEEK IN, WEEK OUT.
LOUIS VUITTON TAKES ON THE 2023 CLARIDGE’S CHRISTMAS TREE
In a collision of luxury that has us reaching for our imaginary monocles, Claridge’s and Louis Vuitton have dropped the festive bombshell of the season with their collaborative creation: a Christmas tree.
If you thought tinsel and baubles were the epitome of Christmas tree glam, think again. Picture this: a 5.2-meter towering spectacle, not of twinkling lights and garnish, but of two colossal Louis Vuitton Malles Vestaire, or ‘Wardrobe Trunks,’ giving your grandma’s spruce a run for its money.
This haute-couture arboreal masterpiece is a meeting of minds that goes beyond fashioning a tree. Claridge’s – London’s high-society hub – and Louis Vuitton – the trendsetter of all trendsetters – have collided like two fashion titans in a chic boxing match.
But wait, there’s more! Scattered across this metallic marvel are 21 of Louis Vuitton’s Vivienne mascots, including the man of the hour, Father Christmas himself. Because nothing says holiday cheer like a black and white marbled lobby adorned with fashionable Louis Vuitton mascots.
Move over traditional angels; it’s a Louis Vuitton workshop that takes the spotlight this year. Charlotte Swindells
BIRKENSTOCK AND STUSSY ARE SOLE MATES
Birkenstock and Stüssy are back at it again, sending shockwaves through the style scene with their latest lovechild – the Solana. It’s not just a shoe, it’s a cosy revolution for your feet.
The classic Birkenstock Kyoto style, plucked from the archives, takes a wild spin in the creative blender of Stüssy’s design minds. The result? The Solana, a slip-on sensation that’s a love letter to comfort and coolness.
What makes the Solana a game-changer? Start with Birkenstocks signature moulded cork footbed, a magic carpet ride for your feet. Then, top it off with an oversized suede upper, hugged by shearling so soft you’ll want to swap your blankets for these shoes. Oh, and did we mention the adjustable hook and loop fastener? Your feet just found their soulmate.
But it’s not just about feeling like you’re walking on clouds; it’s a visual feast too. The Solana struts onto the scene in bone, caramel and washed green – a colour palette that screams, “I’m cosy, I’m cool, I’m ready for anything!” And for that extra stamp of coolness, the Solana rocks an embossed Stüssy logo on the side; because when two iconic brands come together, they don’t just collaborate, they create a sartorial symphony.
Solana isn’t just a summer fling. This is the shoe that goes from cosy nights by the fire to casual strolls in the park without missing a beat. It’s the footwear chameleon you didn’t know you needed. CS
WASTE YARN PROJECT OPENS OSLO FLAGSHIP
Waste Yarn Project just dropped its latest bombshell on Oslo’s style circuit with the opening of its flagship store in the charming vintage locale of Salgshallen in Storgata. It isn’t just a store, it’s a knitwear wonderland and with every design it’s redefining sustainability and making it chic.
Nestled within the historic bones of a Sales Hall from the roaring ’30s, with the new sales space, Waste Yarn Project is doing more than just reviving fashion – it’s reviving a whole building. Sharing the block with a feminist bookstore, a print shop and a gallery, the retailer is knitting itself into the fabric of the arts and culture hub.
Not your run-of-the-mill retail therapy, the store is an eco-conscious aesthetic marvel. Lamps, hangers, and rails? Forget steel, they’ve been crafted from surplus yarn, crocheted into existence by the skilled hands at the Waste Yarn Project. Damaged wood from the building? Not in the dumpster, but on display as stylish shelves. As for a discarded mirror? It’s not trash, it’s a storage space in disguise. The mastermind behind this repurposing revolution is none other than artist and furniture designer extraordinaire, Travis Dinsmore.
But why has Oslo found itself in the warm embrace of Waste Yarn Project? According to the brand’s Norwegian co-founder and design maestro Siri Johansen, “Oslo chose us!” Well, Oslo, you’ve got a flair for picking winners. CS
ARMAND BASI X PER PÖTESSON
Armand Basi, the powerhouse of Spanish elegance, is venturing into a new era hand in hand with Swedish-born, London-based designer Per Götesson. Get ready for a collision of cultures – a blend of Barcelona’s iconic architecture with London’s urban chic – as the pair unleash a collaborative collection that’ll turn heads and break moulds.
Götesson, with a penchant for unravelling the complex tapestry of masculinity in his own collections, now takes his menswear expertise into a unisex utopia. Drawing inspiration from Barcelona’s cityscape and the effortless allure of its inhabitants, he crafts a visual symphony of tradition and modernity.
The streets of Barcelona become the runway, with Götesson documenting the nonchalant chicness of everyday style in the city. The Illas (Blocks) that define Barcelona’s grids inspire an architectural language thats woven into the graphics of the collection. Tailored jackets, a nod to Armand Basi’s DNA, are cut loose with strong lines, echoing the city’s natural contours without sacrificing comfort.
The collaboration isn’t just a nod to fashion though, it’s a dance with sustainability. Götesson, diving into Armand Basi’s archives, revives key codes of the brand with a green thumb. Leather steps aside for recycled rubber in outerwear, rewriting the fashion narrative with an eco-friendly twist.
And what’s fashion without a bit of bling? Enter Husam El Odeh, Götesson’s partner in creativity, shaping both one-of-a-kind and commercial jewellery pieces. Drawing inspiration from Mies van der Rohe’s graphic lines and Barcelona’s famed ilia’s cradle, each piece is an architectural masterpiece for adorning the body.
Barcelona’s streets just met London’s edge, and the result is pure fashion fusion. CS
OFF-WHITE LINKS UP WITH FARFETCH BEAT TO LAUNCH _LOGIC
In the world of Off-White, the legacy of founder Virgil Abloh continues to reverberate through each stitch and silhouette. Now, it drops the mic with its latest creation, the _Logic capsule collection – born from a collaboration with Farfetch Beat.
A collection of tees and hoodies, the fashion equivalent of a sonic boom, are available in black and white and unfurl like a visual anthology, a graffiti wall, of Off-White’s poignant journey throughout the last decade. A varsity jacket becomes a heritage parade, proudly displaying the brand’s philosophy on the back – defining that enigmatic space between black and white. Virgil would be proud. The OOO sneaker, meanwhile, is a symphony of Off White’s signature blue, a melody of black and white styles that dance between simplicity and elevated detailing.
And now, queue the partnership crescendo with Farfetch Beat’s Beat 011. Imagine a subcollection within the _Logic universe, handcrafted by the artistic hands of New York’s very own Phillip Leyesa. The result? Ten tees and ten hoodies with a dash of Leyesa’s magic – distressed effects, blue, black and white brushstrokes that turn each piece into a wearable masterpiece. The wider collection also offers a selection of home objects. Lush. CS
BALENCIAGA MUSIC’S ARCHIVE COLLAB
Demna is building on Balenciaga’s universe with the next phase of Balenciaga Music. Wanting to create a “more personal and complete music experience”, the creative director is clear about just how integral music is to the culture of Balenciaga. For this next addition to the project, the fashion house has collaborated with British trip-hop, electronic and avant garde group, Archive. The musical group have composed Patterns, an 8.5 minute track that’s available exclusively via an NFC (Near Field Communication) chip that will be included in the tags sewn into the Balenciaga Music/Archive merchandise.
Alongside Patterns, Archive have hand-selected a 24-hour long playlist, intended to be played on shuffle, that’s now available on streaming services and the Balenciaga Music hub on its website. In a release, Archive founding member Darius Keeler commends Balenciaga for its “individuality and innovation” something which he says is kept at “the heart of Archive’s creative process” as well. Working to shape new creative landscapes for Balenciaga audiences to navigate, this project offers a curated 360-degree experience making it clear that the fashion house intends to tap into our senses and craft a truly immersive vision of Balenciaga. OB
THE NEW BERGHAUS MERA PEAK
Berghaus, a British brand through and through, has been producing outdoor gear since 1966. Since then, its apparel has not only helped alpinists climb mountains, but become fashion staples for iconic Brit-pop stars who have only ever climbed charts. Recently, the Newcastle-born outerwear brand has re-introduced its Mera Peak jacket. Considered the ‘Godfather of Gore-Tex’, the Mera Peak dominated late ’90s/early ’00s landscapes and rave spaces, proving just as effective against British downpours in the hills as vodka-soda spills.
In the current fashion climate of gorp guys and girlies, it’s clear that the brand is tuned in to the growing interest in hyper-technical garb, a look often appropriated by Soho stepping fashion-heads and TikTok boys. But Berghaus brings it up a level, tapping into its style archive to blend its highest-spec craft with an uber-cool awareness of what customers really want. The Mera Peak’s new colourways lock into a refined sense of outdoor dressing and perfectly unite the used-to-be-mutually exclusive elements of style and practicality. OB
BULGARI’S CABOCHON COLLECTION
Drawing from its signature cabochon cut for a brand new collection magnifying the organic purity of gold, Bulgari presents the aptly named Cabochon Collection. While ‘cabochon’ typically refers to the shape, polish and cut of its jewels, the Roman-born brand has developed this collection to mirror the shape and verdant nature of cabochon, using gold alone.
Breathing life back into gold – a rather static precious-metal – Bulgari’s Cabochon ring and pendent necklace offer a sense of liveliness with their fluid lines and dynamic shine. Falling like molten gold across the fingers and collar bones, their innate design celebrate the ancient goldsmithing tradition already present in antiquated Roman times.
Available in sumptuous 18 karat yellow and rose gold, the Cabochon ring and pendant necklace are a supreme union between ergonomic design and truly luxurious feel. OB
BRUNELLO CUCINELLI’S VERY HARRODS CHRISTMAS
If the idea of trudging through the cold to Winter Wonderland is already paining you, may we suggest taking a trip to the new Brunello Cucinelli pop-up space in Harrods, instead? There, you’ll receive all the same wonderfully wintry holiday vibes as the annual attraction, but without the screaming children, kitschy gifts or frost-bitten fingers.
The Solomeo in White pop-up – named for the Italian brand’s homeland – offers Harrods’ customers the chance to step into Cucinelli’s refined and luxurious vision of Christmas. From the outside, you’ll see vast window displays depicting wintry scenes with snow-capped mountains that’ll transport you and the rest of the Knightsbridge shoppers off the bustling streets and into the quaint festive fortress of Solomeo. Inside, visitors will be able to discover Cucinelli’s menswear and womenswear edits as well as its lifestyle capsule. Cashmere knit baubles, candleholders and cushy throw blankets are mixed in amongst the goodies. Head on down to Harrods if you’re in need of a little high-class holiday cheer. OB
SAINT LAURENT RIVE DROITE SPONSORS JUERGEN TELLER’S ‘I NEED TO LIVE’ EXHIBITION
A new exhibition celebrating internationally renowned photographer Juergen Teller is coming to Paris. Set to premier at the Grand Palais Ephémère, from December 16 to January 9, 2024, none other than French fashion house and long-time Teller collaborator, Saint Laurent, is its sponsor. The exhibition, entitled I Need to Live, will present a plethora of Teller’s work, both personal and commissioned, from across the course of his striking career. Both provocative and humorous, Teller’s opus strikes the perfect balance between the grotesque and the truly beautiful. His portraits of celebrities are parred-back and avoid the typical over-embellishment that tends to follow famous faces. His fashion campaigns and self-portraits are earnest and despite their sometimes unusual content or strange compositions, appear inviting to the observer.
What’s really special though, is that alongside the iconic images, moving images and installations, a small lifestyle capsule collection, made in collaboration with YSL’s Anthony Vaccarello, with be up for grabs. The collection will include homeware and decorative objects, as well as T-shirts printed with some of Teller’s most ionic photography. The exhibition will also feature a selection of Teller’s artist’s books and offer wonderful insight into the printed media, images and texts that have informed the cultural context of his vast body of work. While only showing for a short time in Paris, fear not, for I Need to Live will move on to show at the Milan Triennale during Spring 2024. OB
MARTINE ROSE TAPS STELLA ARTOIS
This is not your dad’s Stella, its not your uncle’s Stella either; this is Martine Rose’s Stella. The lauded British designer who launched her eponymous label in 2007, beginning with a tiny edit of beautiful menswear shirts, has just unveiled her latest collab. A boozy link up with Stella Artois. Yes, that Stella Artois, the same Stella that has been making Belgian-style pilsner since 1926.
The collaboration protagonist is an oversized bomber jacket crafted from a buttery tan leather and embellished with Stella Artois bottle caps. Lined with beer mat towelling and hand-dyed Martine Rose branding, the jacket not only pays homage to British pub culture, but also expertly exhibits Rose’s truly innovative design capabilities. Aside from the beer bomber though, there are distressed jeans with Stella Artois ‘repair-patches’ and a boxy T-shirt spattered with paper-feel beer bottle labels on offer.
Sticking to Rose’s community-driven roots, the collection’s teaser-video is set in Cousin’s Pool Club, a regular haunt for Martine herself. Cans of Stella, pool cues and of course, the new collection, are all presented in such an atmospheric way that its easy to forget, you’re not looking at family photos from pub-nights gone by, but instead, a truly brilliant collaborative campaign between two innovative brands that pays homage to the rich legacy of UK subcultures with a particular nod to the Pool Hall. OB
DELICIOUS DIORETTE JEWELLERY
Inspired by Christian Dior’s garden at Milly-la-Forêt, Dior has re-introduced Diorette for the first time in over 10 years. Flitting between the natural world and the meticulous craftmanship of Dior jewellery, five new fine pieces feature flora and fauna speckled with jewels and garden-inspired lacquer colours. The Diorette pieces adorn the neck, hands and ears, tying the wearer to the ever-so faraway springtime, serving as a gentle reminder of the regrowth that will come when winter loosens its cold grip.
Along with Diorette, Bois de Rose, a chapter of La Rose Dior features precious metals enriched with diamonds and crafted in the shape of rose stems and thorns. Available in white and rose gold, the stems delicately wrap themselves around the wearer while thorny motifs are softened by gleaming metal finishes. Striking the perfect balance between the untamed natural world and the beautifully controlled craft of jewellery making, Dior’s new pieces ensure that clients come in contact with even the daintiest of the great outdoors. OB
Top Image: Photography courtesy of Martine Rose.
